Coinfection with Entamoeba polecki and Brachyspira hyodysenteriae in a pig with severe diarrhea

Enteric disease in pigs is usually of multifactorial etiology, including infectious and non-infectious factors. In many cases of endemic diarrhea in weaner-to-finisher pigs, the combination of 2 or more microorganisms leads to aggravation of intestinal lesions and, consequently, clinical signs. We autopsied a 4-mo-old fattening pig with diarrhea and diagnosed severe fibrinonecrotizing typhlocolitis. Numerous spiral-shaped bacteria and amoeba-like PAS-positive protozoa were observed in the cecal and colonic mucosa and submucosa. Brachyspira hyodysenteriae was detected by PCR from colonic content. By in situ hybridization, large numbers of Entamoeba polecki were found within the lamina propria and submucosa; moderate numbers of Blastocystis sp. and scattered trichomonads were present in intestinal content. In addition, Entamoeba polecki, Balantidium spp., Blastocystis sp., and Trichomonas sp. were also detected by PCR.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Strongyloides stercoralis infection in dogs in Austria: two case reports.

BACKGROUND Strongyloides stercoralis is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, but reports of infections in central and northern Europe have been recently increasing. Infections occur mainly in humans and dogs. In dogs, both dog-adapted and zoonotic S. stercoralis genotypes seem to occur. Clinical manifestations mainly include gastrointestinal and respiratory signs. The severity of the disease can vary greatly and depends on the immune status of the host. The infection is potentially fatal in immunosuppressed individuals, either medically induced or due to an underlying disease, in which hyperinfections and disseminated infections with extraintestinal parasite dissemination may occur. METHODS Diagnosis was based on coproscopy, including flotation and the Baermann funnel technique, histology of small intestinal biopsies and molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and hypervariable regions I and IV (HVR I and HVR IV) of the nuclear 18S rDNA loci. RESULTS Two independent cases of severe canine S. stercoralis infection in Austria are presented. In both cases, S. stercoralis was detected in histological sections of the small intestine and with the Baermann funnel technique. Molecular analysis revealed strains with zoonotic potential. Case 1 was a 1-year-old female French bulldog with a long history of respiratory and gastrointestinal signs, severe emaciation and apathy before S. stercoralis infection was diagnosed. Treatment with moxidectin (2.5 mg/kg body weight [BW], oral route) did not eliminate the infection, but treatment with ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg BW, subcutaneously) was successful. Case 2 consisted of two 2-month-old Pomeranian puppies, one female and one male, from a litter of four, which died soon after presenting dyspnoea and haemorrhagic diarrhoea (female) or torticollis (male); S. stercoralis infection was first diagnosed post-mortem. CONCLUSION More attention should be paid to this nematode because although it appears to be rare in Austria, it is easily overlooked on standard coproscopy unless a Baermann funnel technique is used, and even then, it can be missed. Moxidectin is not always successful in eliminating the infection, and treatment with ivermectin should be considered in cases of infection

Sheep Infection Trials with ‘Phase-Locked’ Vpma Expression Variants of Mycoplasma agalactiae—Towards Elucidating the Role of a Multigene Family Encoding Variable Surface Lipoproteins in Infection and Disease

The significance of large multigene families causing high-frequency surface variations in mycoplasmas is not well-understood. Previously, VpmaY and VpmaU clonal variants of the Vpma family of lipoproteins of M. agalactiae were compared via experimental sheep infections using the two corresponding ‘Phase-Locked Mutants’. However, nothing is known about the infectivity of the remaining four Vpma expression variants VpmaX, VpmaW, VpmaZ and VpmaV as they were never evaluated in vivo. Here, in vivo infection and disease progression of all six Vpma expressers constituting the Vpma family of type strain PG2 were compared using the corresponding xer1-disrupted PLMs expressing single well-characterized Vpmas. Each of the six PLMs were separately evaluated using the intramammary sheep infection model along with the control phase-variable wildtype strain PG2. Thorough bacteriological, pathological and clinical examinations were performed, including assessment of milk quality, quantity and somatic cell counts. Altogether, the results indicated that the inability to vary the Vpma expression phase does not hamper the initiation of infection leading to mastitis for all six PLMs, except for PLMU, which showed a defect in host colonization and multiplication for the first 24 h p.i. and pathological/bacteriological analysis indicated a higher potential for systemic spread for PLMV and PLMX. This is the first study in which all isogenic expression variants of a large mycoplasma multigene family are tested in the natural host

Only marginal alignment of disc galaxies

Testing theories of angular-momentum acquisition of rotationally supported disc galaxies is the key to understand the formation of this type of galaxies. The tidal-torque theory tries to explain this acquisition process in a cosmological framework and predicts positive autocorrelations of angular-momentum orientation and spiral-arm handedness on distances of 1Mpc/h. This disc alignment can also cause systematic effects in weak-lensing measurements. Previous observations claimed discovering such correlations but did not account for errors in redshift, ellipticity and morphological classifications. We explain how to rigorously propagate all important errors. Analysing disc galaxies in the SDSS database, we find that positive autocorrelations of spiral-arm handedness and angular-momentum orientations on distances of 1Mpc/h are plausible but not statistically significant. This result agrees with a simple hypothesis test in the Local Group, where we find no evidence for disc alignment. Moreover, we demonstrate that ellipticity estimates based on second moments are strongly biased by galactic bulges, thereby corrupting correlation estimates and overestimating the impact of disc alignment on weak-lensing studies. Finally, we discuss the potential of future sky surveys. We argue that photometric redshifts have too large errors, i.e., PanSTARRS and LSST cannot be used. We also discuss potentials and problems of front-edge classifications of galaxy discs in order to improve estimates of angular-momentum orientation.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures; accepted by MNRA

Trichomonosis in Austrian Songbirds—Geographic Distribution, Pathological Lesions and Genetic Characterization over Nine Years

In the early summer of 2012, sudden mass mortality among songbirds, particularly in greenfinches (Chloris chloris, syn: Carduelis chloris) was observed in Austria, which was caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae. This pathogen induced fibrinonecrotic ingluvitis and/or esophagitis, leading to impairment of food intake and ultimately death due to starvation. The pathogen was successfully detected within the lesions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and chromogenic in situ hybridization. The epizootic resulted in a significant decline in the Austrian greenfinch population. Continuing passive surveillance in the subsequent years (2013–2020) revealed that the condition occurred each year and was present in the entire country. Genetic characterization of the pathogen showed the presence of an identical strain irrespective of geographical location, bird species, and year

Untersuchungen zu Kropfentzündungen bei österreichischen wildlebenden Singvögeln in Zusammenhang mit Salmonellen- und Trichomonadeninfektionen

Dissertation - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2022 The full text is only available to university members. Please log in!Infectious crop inflammation in wild songbirds has been a well-known international phenomenon for some time and can then lead to sudden mass mortality in the respective bird population. The pathogens responsible have been identified as the bacterium Salmonella Typhimurium and the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae. The resulting pharyngitis, ingluviitis and esophagitis appear on macroscopic examination as multifocal to confluent yellowish nodules and sometimes lead to obstruction of the upper digestive tract and subsequently to severely compromised feed uptake. In Austria, a massive death of songbirds was observed in the winter months of 2010 and 2012, especially of Eurasian Siskins, which, with the help of microbiological and immunohistochemical examination methods, could be clearly attributed to an infection with S. Typhimurium. In addition, we investigated episodes of mass mortality in Austrian songbirds between 2012 and 2020, which occurred during the warm season and in particular drastically decimated the Greenfinch population. Using PCR and insitu- hybridization, T. gallinae was identified as the cause of these considerable losses. The present study succeeded in providing evidence that Salmonella and Trichomonads are responsible for these inflammatory lesions of the upper digestive tract in Austrian wild-living songbirds. Furthermore, it could be shown that trichomonosis occurs mainly in the warm season, whereas Salmonella infection in the winter months leads to increased mortality in finches. Another aim was to elucidate why particularly greenfinches and siskins succumbed to these infections. The reason may be found in their feeding behavior, as these finch species like to hold several grains in their beaks and often feed each other. In summary, the results also suggest that the birds are mainly infected at the feeding places and that hygiene conditions and the right choice of bird feeders play an important role in the prevention of these diseases.Dissertation - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2022 Aus rechtlichen Gründen sind nicht alle Teile dieser Arbeit frei zugänglich. Der Zugriff auf den elektronischen Volltext ist auf Angehörige der Veterinärmedizinischen Universität Wien beschränkt. Bitte einloggen!Infektiöse Kropfentzündungen bei wildlebenden Singvögeln sind ein schon länger bekanntes, internationales Phänomen, und können zu plötzlich auftretenden Massensterben in der jeweiligen Vogelpopulation führen. Als verantwortliche Erreger sind unter anderem das Bakterium Salmonella Typhimurium sowie der protozoäre Parasit Trichomonas gallinae identifiziert worden. Die dadurch bedingten Pharyngitiden, Ingluvitiden und Ösophagitiden stellen sich bei der makroskopischen Untersuchung als multifokale bis konfluierende, gelbliche Knötchen dar und führen teilweise zu einer Obstruktion des oberen Verdauungstraktes und in weiterer Folge zur Unfähigkeit der Vögel Futter aufzunehmen. Auch in Österreich konnte in den Wintermonaten 2010 und 2012 ein massives Singvogelsterben, insbesondere der Erlenzeisige, beobachtet werden, welches mit Hilfe mikrobiologischer und immunhistochemischer Untersuchungsmethoden eindeutig auf eine Infektion mit S. Typhimurium zurückzuführen war. Darüber hinaus untersuchten wir zwischen 2012 und 2020 Episoden von Massensterben bei österreichischen Singvögeln, die während der warmen Jahreszeit auftraten und im Besonderen die Grünfinkenpopulation drastisch dezimierten. Dabei konnte mittels PCR und in-situ-Hybridisierung T. gallinae als Verursacher dieser erheblichen Verluste identifiziert werden. Mit der vorliegenden Studie gelang es, den Beweis für die Verantwortlichkeit von Salmonellen und Trichomonaden für diese entzündlichen Läsionen des oberen Verdauungstraktes bei österreichischen, wildlebenden Singvögeln zu erbringen. Des Weiteren konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Trichomonose vor allem in der warmen Jahreszeit auftritt, während hingegen eine Salmonelleninfektion überwiegend in den Wintermonaten zu einer erhöhten Sterblichkeit bei Finken führt. Ein weiteres Ziel war es herauszufinden, warum speziell Erlenzeisige und Grünfinken diesen Infektionen zum Opfer fielen. Der Grund dafür liegt womöglich in deren Fressverhalten, da diese Finkenarten gerne mehrere Körner im Schnabel halten und sich oft gegenseitig füttern. Zusammenfassend legen diese Ergebnisse auch den Schluss nahe, dass sich die Vögel hauptsächlich an den Futterstellen infizieren und somit die Hygienebedingungen und die richtige Auswahl der Futterhäuschen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Vorbeugung dieser Krankheiten spielen

Isolation of tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia suis from a pig herd affected by reproductive disorders and conjunctivitis

Due to various challenges in diagnosing chlamydiosis in pigs, antibiotic treatment is usually performed before any molecular or antibiotic susceptibility testing. This could increase the occurrence of tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia (C.) suis isolates in the affected pig population and potentiate the reoccurrence of clinical signs. Here, we present a case of an Austrian pig farm, where tetracycline resistant and sensitive C. suis isolates were isolated from four finishers with conjunctivitis. On herd-level, 10% of the finishers suffered from severe conjunctivitis and sows showed a high percentage of irregular return to estrus. Subsequent treatment of whole-herd using oxytetracycline led to a significant reduction of clinical signs. Retrospective antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed tetracycline resistance and decreased susceptibility to doxycycline in half of the ocular C. suis isolates, and all isolates were able to partially recover following a single-dose tetracycline treatment in vitro. These findings were later confirmed in vivo, when all former clinical signs recurred three months later. This case report raises awareness of tetracycline resistance in C. suis and emphasizes the importance of preventative selection of tetracycline resistant C. suis isolates

Usutu virus, Austria and Hungary, 2010–2016

Usutu virus (USUV, Flaviviridae) was first reported in Europe in Austria in 2001, where it caused wild bird (mainly blackbird) mortality until 2005. Since 2006 no further USUV cases were diagnosed in the country. However, the virus emerged in other European countries (Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Germany and the Czech Republic) between 2005 and 2011. In 2016, widespread USUV-associated wild bird mortality was observed in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. In this study, we report the results of passive monitoring for USUV in Austria and Hungary between 2010 and 2016. In Hungary, USUV caused sporadic cases of wild bird mortality between 2010 and 2015 (altogether 18 diagnosed cases), whereas in summer and autumn 2016 the number of cases considerably increased to 12 (ten blackbirds, one Eurasian jay and one starling). In Austria, USUV was identified in two blackbirds in 2016. Phylogenetic analyses of coding-complete genomes and partial regions of the NS5 protein gene revealed that USUVs from Hungary between 2010 and 2015 are closely related to the virus that emerged in Austria in 2001 and in Hungary in 2005, while one Hungarian sequence from 2015 and all sequences from Hungary and Austria from 2016 clustered together with USUV sequences reported from Italy between 2009 and 2010. The results of the study indicate continuous USUV circulation in the region and exchange of USUV strains between Italy, Austria and Hungary.Emerging Microbes & Infections (2017) 6, e85; doi:10.1038/emi.2017.72; published online 11 October 201

In vitro and in vivo cell invasion and systemic spreading of Mycoplasma agalactiae in the sheep infection model

AbstractGenerally regarded as extracellular pathogens, molecular mechanisms of mycoplasma persistence, chronicity and disease spread are largely unknown. Mycoplasma agalactiae, an economically important pathogen of small ruminants, causes chronic infections that are difficult to eradicate. Animals continue to shed the agent for several months and even years after the initial infection, in spite of long antibiotic treatment. However, little is known about the strategies that M. agalactiae employs to survive and spread within an immunocompetent host to cause chronic disease. Here, we demonstrate for the first time its ability to invade cultured human (HeLa) and ruminant (BEND and BLF) host cells. Presence of intracellular mycoplasmas is clearly substantiated using differential immunofluorescence technique and quantitative gentamicin invasion assays. Internalized M. agalactiae could survive and exit the cells in a viable state to repopulate the extracellular environment after complete removal of extracellular bacteria with gentamicin. Furthermore, an experimental sheep intramammary infection was carried out to evaluate its systemic spread to organs and host niches distant from the site of initial infection. Positive results obtained via PCR, culture and immunohistochemistry, especially the latter depicting the presence of M. agalactiae in the cytoplasm of mammary duct epithelium and macrophages, clearly provide the first formal proof of M. agalactiae's capability to translocate across the mammary epithelium and systemically disseminate to distant inner organs. Altogether, the findings of these in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that M. agalactiae is capable of entering host cells and this might be the strategy that it employs at a population level to ward off the host immune response and antibiotic action, and to disseminate to new and safer niches to later egress and once again proliferate upon the return of favorable conditions to cause persistent chronic infections